Project Anchor Construction
With Project Anchor, Chessington planned to add two new rides for the 2022 season. Planning was submitted in February. The plans detail the addition of these new rides to the Pirate’s Cove area.
The first of the two new rides looks set to be a new round ride. Featuring water guns and a nautical feel. With a lighthouse tower operating console. The new ride brings a new interactive touch to the park and is an additional water ride. It’ll be extremely popular on those hot days! This new ride looks like a Watermania ride by Italian manufacturer, Zamperla. Barrel Bail Out is the expected name for this new ride.
Chessington also looks set to install the former Timber Tug Boat ride from Thorpe Park. This Rockin’ Tug ride will match the theme of the land and save the ride from the scrap heap. With a new roller coaster planned for Thorpe Park. The ride was on the chopping block. Timber Tug Boat will make Chessington its third home. With Trawler Trouble the expected name for this relocated ride.
The project, known as Project Anchor transformed the former Pirate’s Cove area into Shipwreck Coast. A dainty and disturbed seaside fishing town whose prized cod has gone missing. The land, featuring two new rides and tonnes of new theming totally renovated the tired Pirate’s Cove. The area was reborn and became one of the nicest areas to be at Chessington. With a varied lineup of rides for the family, it was a fantastic addition.
We followed the construction and planning of the project from day one and below are the various construction updates we released. Join us as we return to this exciting project below.
Project Anchor Construction
16th February 2022
In early 2022, the Chessington Buzz team got word that changes were coming to Pirate's Cove this season. To ensure we could document the area, we began photographing the land shortly after Chessington submitted the planning application.
Here you can see Seastorm blocked off following prolonged downtime. The maintenance team has dismantled the ride and is currently awaiting parts. The park is hopeful to have the ride back in operation as soon as possible.
Our journey into what later became Project Anchor and Shipwreck Coast began here.
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Project Anchor Construction
26th February 2022
Although little has changed, with planning submitted some small things have begun in the area. They closed down the previous basketball game and removed all the prizes. Someone cleared the pathways and tidied things up.
Seastorm has not shown any visible progress, revealing the poor state of repair in which the centrepiece of the ride currently exists. The Pirates' Cove mast, installed in late 2021, remains in place.
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Project Anchor Construction
5th March 2022
Once again, little has changed on the site. Some clearing and path widening have begun to take place in the nearby area, but little else has happened.
The park has confirmed to us that they have ordered parts to repair Seastorm, which still remains in pieces. The ride is expected to experience delays in reopening due to the current shortage of parts.
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Project Anchor Construction
17th March 2022
Themed site walls are up and work continues on clearing the area. Chessington is quickly preparing things without wasting any time. With the boundary now in place and work on clearing away parts of the area. HB Leisure has relocated the former basketball game. Work should start ramping up soon!
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Project Anchor Construction
20th March 2022
Clearing work is continuing. The extended pathway section that started earlier in the season is now close to completion. Seastorm's queue line is also undergoing maintenance. With the former Fastrack merge point and batching area removed.
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Project Anchor Construction
26th March 2022
Work continues to progress well, with the new queue line fencing for Seastorm now in place. Seatorm's entrance is now clearly integrated into the new area. The foundation for Trawler Trouble is now in place. Barrel Bail Out also seems to be beginning to take shape, with the outline of the ride becoming clear.
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Project Anchor Construction
4th April 2022
Chessington hasn't made any significant changes, but they're still working diligently to keep up the momentum. The queue line for Seatorm is taking shape and the foundation works on Trawler Trouble and Bobbing Barrels continue. They have also dismantled the previous pay-to-play Pirate Blasta game. No major changes appear to be happening at Seastorm, with the ride still in pieces.
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Project Anchor Construction
9th April 2022
Time flies at Chessington, and apparently, so do the construction crews! Work has picked up and the foundations for Bobbing Barrels are taking shape. The construction team began building concrete troughs alongside the wooden framework for the rides. This framework will form a mould when the construction team pour the concrete base.
The foundations and what looks to be utilities are in place for Trawler Trouble. The team has completed the trimming and widening of a section of the pathway.
Unfortunately, Seastorm remains in a state of disrepair, with minimal advancements. Nevertheless, the queue line for the ride has undergone a complete overhaul. With a new entranceway taking shape within Shipwreck Coast. The queue will now form part of the area, rather than being a part of Adventure Point. It’s a good change that will help bring the new land together.
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Project Anchor Construction
14th April 2022
Work continues at Chessington. Most of the concrete base for Barrel Bail Out is now in place, bringing it close to completing its foundations. Rebar sidings are in place for the edge of what will become the base of the water mania ride. Water is expected to fill the base.
The construction team has completed the foundations for Trawler Trouble, and they are currently installing fencing around the site. The base for what will be the loading platform on the left-hand side looks to have its foundations completed.
Not much else seems to be taking place on Seastorm. The park still seems to be awaiting parts to repair the ride. Here’s hoping it will arrive soon so that the park can get Seastorm back into operation. Completing Shipwreck Coast this summer will certainly assist the park in managing the crowds.
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Project Anchor Construction
21st April 2022
The final concrete framework for the Barrel Bail Out's trough is in place, with concrete poured and setting. Work also continues on Trawler Trouble, with the perimeter of the ride taking shape. Seastorm's new queue looks to be complete, but there are still large boulders and planting blocking parts of its layout.
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Project Anchor Construction
29th April 2022
It’s time for another update and this time exciting things are happening!
Over on Seastorm, the long-awaited parts have arrived. This has allowed park engineers to continue putting the ride back together. It’ll be great to have Seastorm back in operation. It remains uncertain whether it will reopen when ready or if it will be held back until Shipwreck Coast is completed.
The foundations for Bobbing Barrels look to be complete, with work progressing on foundations for the queue line. The ride operator kiosk is yet to have foundations too, so those will likely begin soon. We haven't confirmed the arrival of the ride hardware yet, but we'll monitor it closely!
Fencing and work surrounding Trawler Trouble are also going well. With the exit path and fencing starting to take shape. A scenic refurbishment company is currently overhauling the ride before it reaches Chessington.
Things are progressing well and we cannot wait to see it all come together.
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Project Anchor Construction
7th May 2022
Blockwork pathing is going down throughout the land. With the queue line for Bobbing Barrels becoming clear. The exit ramp for Trawler Trouble is also in progress. On Seastorm, the team has accomplished significant progress by reinstalling the ride's main arms. The new queue line however still has rocks and planting blocking its final route.
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Project Anchor Construction
11th May 2022
After a short refurbishment, Trawler Trouble has just received a fresh coat of paint and now proudly displays a new colour scheme. Formerly known as Timber Tug Boat from Thorpe Park, this Zamperla Rockin’ Tug ride looks nearly new! The fresh colours look set to tie in nicely with the new colours of Shipwreck Coast.
Elsewhere on the construction site. Workers are currently erecting a substantial section of scaffolding above the Barrel Bail Out site. We believe this is to waterproof the foundations without worrying about issues caused by the UK weather. The foundations look mostly completed now and we cannot wait to see the ride hardware arrive. Fencing work is progressing well around the area and work on Seastorm is continuing well.
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Project Anchor Construction
18th May 2022
Never ones to settle of late, Chessington isn’t just fixing up the ride system of Seastorm. A few seasons ago, they refreshed the centrepiece of the ride. It is now seeing some fantastic new theming additions, with a large ship and tentacle now installed. They were adding a broken mast at the end of our visit.
They are almost done assembling the ride hardware, and now they just need to reattach the ships to Seastorm. Work is also ongoing painting the rides operator cabin. With creative teams from both Chessington and Freemont Baxter working on the project.
A lot of work is going on around the site, with fencing now up across most of the ride queues. The area is really starting to come together and we cannot wait to see it all completed and back open!
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Project Anchor Construction
26th May 2022
Barrel Bail Out's ride system has arrived! The team is swiftly setting up the ride that just arrived on the ferry from Italy, and they are making good progress with the installation work. The Italian company Zamperla manufactures the Watermania ride model. Work is also taking place installing what we believe to be animal enclosures within the Trawler Trouble queue line. The ride now features a newly installed operator's kiosk.
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Project Anchor Construction
27th May 2022
A lot can happen overnight! Chessington has made huge progress in the last 24 hours. The crew has lifted Trawler Trouble onto its track.
Seastorm also now has its centrepiece once again. Barrel Bail Out's centre barrel is also now on top of the ride. Which gives us a great idea of how the ride vehicles will look. Theming work is also starting to take shape around the area, with a ship and fishing baskets in place next to the entrance of Seastorm. A nearby resting spot revealed a faux bronze mermaid.
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Project Anchor Construction
1st June 2022
Not a huge amount of progress to report today. The only major change on site is that Bobbing Barrels now has its operator's cabin. The lighthouse tower forms the cabin for the controls of the ride and is now in place. Work is ongoing to tidy up other parts of the new land, with work taking place to prepare parts for planting and the installation of speakers.
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Project Anchor Construction
10th June 2022
Fresh off of the boat, quite literally. The Project Amazon site compound is now housing the newly delivered Barrel Bail Out vehicles. We're hoping they lift these fantastic little rafts onto the ride overnight.
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Project Anchor Construction
11th June 2022
Please Note: These photos were taken on the construction site of Project Anchor. We were escorted onto the construction site and all appropriate personal protective equipment was worn. Never step foot on an active building site without permission.
Of course, it wouldn't be Chessington Buzz without an exclusive behind-the-scenes update! We put on our high-vis jackets and went on a tour with a senior park official. Check out the update below!
There's so much to talk about. So we'll start with Trawler Trouble. The ride system is fully installed and work is due to begin soon on installing the loading platform. Unlike previously, the ride will no longer feature a mechanical loading platform. A new larger platform is being installed instead. This will make it easier for the park to maintain the ride in the long term. Controls are due soon and testing later this month.
In the Trawler Trouble's queue line, two new Black rat enclosures have been installed. These are linked via a tunnel system that the rats can pass through. Forty black rats will call the enclosures home. The two habitats are highly themed with some really great details!
Bobbing Barrels has now had its ride vehicles installed. Controls are in place and work will soon begin on the construction of the plant room for the ride. This will house the ride pumps and filtration systems. Work on the fencing and detailing of the ride will commence soon. This will hopefully be by the end of June.
Elsewhere in the area, the creative team at Chessington have begun set-dressing the land. Work on the installation of an entrance feature for Trawler Trouble progressing well. A stage area is also in progress near the entrance of Bobbing Barrels.
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Project Anchor Construction
16th June 2022
Work is commencing on the installation of theming throughout the town of Shipwreck Coast. With details spotted everywhere, you look. They are installing speakers, and things are really starting to come together. Workers are currently finishing the plant room for Barrel Bail Out, and Seastorm appears to be nearing readiness for its opening. The Trawler Trouble loading platform is shaping up, and they've installed newly refurbished cladding on the ride. The land is really coming together!
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Project Anchor Construction
21st June 2022
Work all over Shipwreck Coast continues. Decorators are adorning the site with highly detailed sets, and new signage and theming are emerging. With the area now close to complete and set to open in a few soon, this will sadly be our last update. We cannot wait to hear the music, see the rides open and this little project completed. We'll be continuing to follow progress on Project Amazon, with frequent updates coming soon.
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